Search

We present the results of a systematic search of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) 2-min cadence data for new rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) stars observed during the Cycle 2 phase of its mission. We find seven new roAp stars previously unreported as such and present the analysis of a further 25 roAp stars that are already known. Three of the new stars show multiperiodic pulsations, while all new members are rotationally variable stars, leading to almost 70 per cent (22) of the roAp stars presented being $\alpha^2$ CVn-type variable stars. We show that targeted observations of known chemically peculiar stars are likely to overlook many new roAp stars, and demonstrate that multi-epoch observations are necessary to see pulsational behaviour changes. We find a lack of roAp stars close to the blue edge of the theoretical roAp instability strip, and reaffirm that mode instability is observed more frequently with precise, space-based observations. In addition to the Cycle 2 observations, we analyse TESS data for all known roAp stars. This amounts to 18 further roAp stars observed by TESS. Finally, we list six known roAp stars that TESS is yet to observe. We deduce that the incidence of roAp stars amongst the Ap star population is just 5.5 per cent, raising fundamental questions about the conditions required to excite pulsations in Ap stars. This work, coupled with our previous work on roAp stars in Cycle 1 observations, presents the most comprehensive, homogeneous study of the roAp stars in the TESS nominal mission, with a collection of 112 confirmed roAp stars in total., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 32 Pages, 2 Tables, 77 Figures

Hydrogen atmosphere pulsating white dwarfs, also known as DAV stars, are the most abundant type of pulsating white dwarfs. High-temperature DAV stars exhibit in general a small number of pulsation modes and stable frequencies. G132-12 is one of the pulsating hydrogen atmosphere white dwarf stars which lies close to the blue edge of the instability strip. Previous researches reported that G132-12 might have only one pulsation mode with the period of 212.69 s. To study the pulsation properties of G132-12 in detail, we carried out a bi-site observation campaign in October 2019. Time series photometric data were collected during around 154 hours in total. A Fourier Analysis reveals 3 frequencies which are identified as the triplet of a $l = 1$ g-mode pulsation with the period of 212.499 s. The rotational period is derived as $P_{rot} = 35.0\pm6.7$ hours and the inclination of the rotational axis to the line of sight is $70^{\circ}$. G132-12 could be an ideal target for measuring the cooling scale of this white dwarf star with only one excited pulsation mode detected.

We present the results of a systematic search for new rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) stars using the 2-min cadence data collected by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) during its Cycle 1 observations. We identify 12 new roAp stars. Amongst these stars we discover the roAp star with the longest pulsation period, another with the shortest rotation period, and six with multiperiodic variability. In addition to these new roAp stars, we present an analysis of 44 known roAp stars observed by TESS during Cycle 1, providing the first high-precision and homogeneous sample of a significant fraction of the known roAp stars. The TESS observations have shown that almost 60 per cent (33) of our sample of stars are multiperiodic, providing excellent cases to test models of roAp pulsations, and from which the most rewarding asteroseismic results can be gleaned. We report four cases of the occurrence of rotationally split frequency multiplets that imply different mode geometries for the same degree modes in the same star. This provides a conundrum in applying the oblique pulsator model to the roAp stars. Finally, we report the discovery of non-linear mode interactions in $\alpha$ Cir (TIC 402546736, HD 128898) around the harmonic of the principal mode -- this is only the second case of such a phenomenon., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 38 Pages, 50 Figures, 1 Table, 2 Appendices

We present the results of our study of the eclipsing binary systems CSS J112237.1+395219, LINEAR 1286561 and LINEAR 2602707 based on new CCD $B$, $V$, $R_c$ and $I_c$ complete light curves. The ultra-short period nature of the stars \citep{Drake2014} is confirmed and the system's periods are revised. The light curves were modelled using the 2005 version of the Wilson-Devinney code. When necessary, cool spots on the surface of the primary component were introduced to account for asymmetries in the light curves. As a result, we found that CSS J112237.1+395219 is a W UMa type contact binary system belonging to W subclass with a mass ratio of $q=1.61$ and a shallow degree of contact of 14.8\% where the primary component is hotter than the secondary one by $500K$. LINEAR 1286561 and LINEAR 2602707 are detached binary systems with mass ratios $q=3.467$ and $q=0.987$ respectively. These detached systems are low-mass M-type eclipsing binaries of similar temperatures. The marginal contact, the fill-out factor and the temperature difference between components of CSS J112237.1+395219 suggest that this system may be at a key evolutionary state predicted by the Thermal Relaxation Oscillation theory (TRO). From the estimated absolute parameters we conclude that our systems share common properties with others ultra-short period binaries., Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publications in Research in Astronomy & Astrophysics

We present the first asteroseismic results for $\delta$ Scuti and $\gamma$ Doradus stars observed in Sectors 1 and 2 of the TESS mission. We utilise the 2-min cadence TESS data for a sample of 117 stars to classify their behaviour regarding variability and place them in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram using Gaia DR2 data. Included within our sample are the eponymous members of two pulsator classes, $\gamma$ Doradus and SX Phoenicis. Our sample of pulsating intermediate-mass stars observed by TESS also allows us to confront theoretical models of pulsation driving in the classical instability strip for the first time and show that mixing processes in the outer envelope play an important role. We derive an empirical estimate of 74% for the relative amplitude suppression factor as a result of the redder TESS passband compared to the Kepler mission using a pulsating eclipsing binary system. Furthermore, our sample contains many high-frequency pulsators, allowing us to probe the frequency variability of hot young $\delta$ Scuti stars, which were lacking in the Kepler mission data set, and identify promising targets for future asteroseismic modelling. The TESS data also allow us to refine the stellar parameters of SX Phoenicis, which is believed to be a blue straggler., Comment: 33 pages (incl. appendix), accepted for publications in MNRAS

We present the first results from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) on the rotational and pulsational variability of magnetic chemically peculiar A-type stars. We analyse TESS 2-min cadence data from sectors 1 and 2 on a sample of 83 stars. Five new rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) stars are announced. One of these pulsates with periods around 4.7 min, making it the shortest period roAp star known to date. Four out of the five new roAp stars are multiperiodic. Three of these, and the singly-periodic one show the presence of rotational mode splitting. Individual frequencies are provided in all cases. In addition, seven previously known roAp stars are analysed. Additional modes of oscillation are found in some stars, while in others we are able to distinguish the true pulsations from possible aliases present in the ground-based data. We find that the pulsation amplitude in the TESS filter is typically a factor 6 smaller than that in the $B$ filter which is usually used for ground-based observations. For four roAp stars we set constraints on the inclination angle and magnetic obliquity, through the application of the oblique pulsator model. We also confirm the absence of roAp-type pulsations down to amplitude limits of 6 and 13 micromag, respectively, in two of the best characterised non-oscillating Ap (noAp) stars. We announce 27 new rotational variables along with their rotation periods, and provide different rotation periods for seven other stars. Finally, we discuss how these results challenge state-of-the-art pulsation models for roAp stars., Comment: 29 pages, accepted for publication in the MNRAS

We present long-term, multi-color photometric monitoring and spectroscopic observations of the short-period M-type eclipsing binary BX Tri. Six flare events were recorded in 4 years from 2014 to 2017. Three of them were detected on one night within an orbital cycle. The strongest one was identified on December 23, 2014. With the amplitudes of $\Delta$B=0.48 mag, $\Delta$V=0.28 mag, $\Delta$R=0.10 mag, $\Delta$I=0.02 mag, the total energy due to the flare event was measured to be 4.08 ($\pm$0.24) $\times$$10^{34}$ erg, exceeding the superflare level ($10^{34}$). Based on the observations, the evolutionary status of the binary system as well as the long-term orbital period changes were analyzed. It reveals that BX Tri is probably a semi-detached system with the primary component filling its Roche lobe. The extremely high occurrence of flare events of the binary could be related to the rapid mass transfer between components., Comment: 16 pages, 10figures; Accepted for publication in ApJ

This paper presents a photometric and spectroscopic study of the short-period binary star Cl*~Melotte~111~AV~1224. Measurements in the $B$, $V$, and $R$ passbands obtained during three observing runs between 2014 and 2017 and medium-resolution spectra secured in 2014, are analyzed together with public data from the SuperWASP and LAMOST projects. Our light curves show marked asymmetry with a variable O'Connell effect. The SuperWASP photometry is used to derive a mean binary period of 0.345225 days. The analysis of the $(O-C)$ diagram reveals that the orbital period is decreasing at a rate of $dP/dt = -3.87 \times 10^{-6}$ days yr$^{-1}$, which may be caused by mass transfer from the more-massive component to the less-massive one. The system is found to be a single-lined spectroscopic binary with a systemic velocity, $\gamma = 1 \pm 3$ Km s$^{-1}$, and a semi-amplitude, K$_{1}$ = 21 $\pm$ 5 Km s$^{-1}$. The spectral classification and the effective temperature of the primary component are estimated to be K0V $\pm$ 1 and $5200 \pm 150$ K, respectively. The photometric and spectroscopic solutions reveal that Cl*~Melotte~111~AV~1224 is a low-mass ratio ($q=m_{2}/m_{1} \sim 0.11$), low-inclination ($\sim ~ 38^{\circ}$) near-contact system. The masses, radii and luminosity for the primary and secondary are estimated to be $1.02 \pm 0.06\, M_\odot$, $1.23 \pm 0.05\, R_\odot $, $1.01 \pm 0.06\, L_\odot$ and $0.11 \pm 0.08\, M_\odot$, $0.45 \pm 0.05\, R_\odot$, $0.10 \pm 0.06\, L_\odot$, respectively. The marginal contact, together with the period decrease, suggests that this binary system may be at a key evolutionary stage, as predicted by the theory of thermal relaxation oscillations., Comment: Accepted for publication in PASP; 11 pages, 11 figures, 8 tables

Bi-site time-series photometric and high-resolution spectroscopic observations were made for the double-mode high-amplitude $\delta$ Scuti star VX\ Hya. The fundamental frequency $f_{0}=4.4763\ \rm{c\ days^{-1}}$, the first overtone $f_{1}=5.7897\ \rm{c\ days^{-1}}$ and 23 harmonics and linear combinations of $f_{0}$ and $f_{1}$ are detected by pulsation analysis. From the spectroscopic data, we get $\rm{[Fe/H] = -0.2\pm0.1\ dex}$. The period change rate of the fundamental mode is obtained by using the Fourier-phase diagram method, which gives the value of $(1/P_{0})(dP_{0}/dt)=(1.81\pm0.09) \times 10^{-7}\ \rm{yr}^{-1}$. With these results from the observations, we perform theoretical explorations with the stellar evolution code MESA, and constrain the models by fitting $f_{0}$, $f_{1}$, and $(1/P_{0})(dP_{0}/dt)$ within $3\sigma$ deviations. The results show that the period change of VX\ Hya could be ascribed to the evolutionary effect. The stellar parameters of VX\ Hya could be derived as: the mass $2.385\pm0.025\ M_{\odot}$, the luminosity $\log(L/L_{\odot})=1.93\pm0.02$ and the age $(4.43\pm0.13)\times 10^8$ years. VX\ Hya is found to locate at the post-main-sequence stage with a helium core and a hydrogen-burning shell on the H${-}$R diagram., Comment: 23 pages, 9 figures, 12 tables. ApJ version

The internal structures of pulsating white dwarfs can be explored only with asteroseismology. Time series photometric observations were made for the pulsating DA white dwarf (ZZ Ceti star) WD~0246+326 during 9 nights in 2014 with a bi-site observation campaign. Eleven frequencies were detected including 1 triplet, 2 doublets, and 4 single modes, which are identified as either $l=1$ or $l=2$ modes with the complementarity of frequencies present in the literature. From the multiplets, the rotation period of \astrobj{WD~0246+326} is derived as $3.78\pm 0.11$ days. The average period spacing of the l=1 modes $\Delta P=29.3\pm 0.2s$, implies that \astrobj{WD~0246+326} may be a massive ZZ Ceti star concerning the $\Delta P-M_*$ relationship for the DAVs. Preliminary analysis derives the stellar parameters of $M_*=0.98\pm0.01$~${\rm M_\odot}$ and $T_{\rm eff}=11700\pm100$~K by fitting the theoretical frequencies of the eigen modes to the observed ones., Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures

Observations for the $\delta$ Scuti star AN Lyn have been made between 2008 and 2016 with the 85-cm telescope at Xinglong station of National Astronomical Observatories of China, the 84-cm telescope at SPM Observatory of Mexico and the Nanshan One meter Wide field Telescope of Xinjiang Observatory of China. Data in $V$ in 50 nights and in $R$ in 34 nights are obtained in total. The bi-site observations from both Xinglong Station and SPM Observatory in 2014 are analyzed with Fourier Decomposition to detect pulsation frequencies. Two independent frequencies are resolved, including one non-radial mode. A number of stellar model tracks are constructed with the MESA code and the fit of frequencies leads to the best-fit model with the stellar mass of $M = 1.70 \pm 0.05~\mathrm{M_{\odot}}$ , the metallicity abundance of $Z = 0.020 \pm 0.001$, the age of $1.33 \pm 0.01$ billion years and the period change rate $1/P\cdot \mathrm{d}P/\mathrm{d}t =1.06 \times 10^{-9} ~\mathrm{yr^{-1}} $, locating the star at the evolutionary stage close to the terminal age main sequence (TAMS). The O-C diagram provides the period change rate of $1/P \cdot \mathrm{d}P /\mathrm{d}t =4.5(8)\times10^{-7}~\mathrm{yr^{-1}}$. However, the period change rate calculated from the models is smaller in two orders than the one derived from the O-C diagram. Together with the sinusoidal function signature, the period variations are regarded to be dominated by the light-travel time effect of the orbital motion of a three-body system with two low-luminosity components, rather than the stellar evolutionary effect., Comment: 14 pages, 8 tables, 17 figures, accepted by mnras

Time-series, multi-color photometry and high-resolution spectra of the short period eclipsing binary V Tri were obtained by observations. The completely covered light and radial velocity curves of the binary system are presented. All times of light minima derived from both photoelectric and CCD photometry were used to calculate the orbital period and new ephemerides of the eclipsing system. The analysis of $O-C$ diagram reveals that the orbital period is $0.58520481\ days$, decreasing at a rate of $dP/dt=-7.80\times10^{-8} d\ yr^{-1} $. The mass transfer between the two components and the light time-travel effect due to a third body could be used to explain the period decrease. However, a semidetached configuration with the less-mass component filling and the primary nearly filling each of their Roche lobes was derived from the synthesis of the light and radial velocity curves by using the 2015 version of the Wilson-Devinney code. We consider the period decrease to be the nonconservative mass transfer from the secondary component to the primary and the mass loss of the system, which was thought to be an EB type while it should be an EA type (semi-detached Algol-type) from our study. The masses, radii and luminosities of the primary and secondary are $1.60\pm0.07 M_\odot$, $1.64\pm0.02 R_\odot$, $14.14\pm0.73 L_\odot$ and $0.74\pm0.02 M_\odot$, $1.23\pm0.02 R_\odot$, $1.65\pm0.05 L_\odot$, respectively., Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, Accepted for publication by AJ

ROTSE1 J164341.65+251748.1 was photometrically observed in the V band during three epochs with the 0.84-m telescope of the San Pedro M\'artir Observatory in Mexico. Based on additional BVR photometry, we find that the primary star has a spectral type around G0V. The light curve of the system is typical of a W~UMa type binary stars and has an orbital period of $\sim$ 0.323 days. In an effort to gain a better understanding of the binary system and determine its physical properties, we analyzed the light curve with the Wilson and Devinney method. We found that ROTSE1 J164341.65+251748.1 has a mass ratio of $\sim$ 0.34 and that the less massive component is over 230 K hotter than the primary star. The inclination of the system is $\sim$ 84.6 degrees, and the {\bf degree} of over-contact is 11\%. The analysis shows the presence of variable bright spots on the primary star., Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables. Accepted for publication in Revista Mexicana de Astronom\'ia y Astrof\'isica (RevMexAA)

Three optical telescopes located at the San Pedro M\'artir National Observatory were used for the first time to obtain multi-filter defocused photometry of the transiting extrasolar planets WASP-39b and WASP-43b. We observed WASP-39b with the 2.12m telescope in the U filter for the first time, and additional observations were carried out in the R and I filters using the 0.84m telescope. WASP-43b was observed in VRI with the same instrument, and in the i filter with the robotic 1.50m telescope. We reduced the data using different pipelines and performed aperture photometry with the help of custom routines, in order to obtain the light curves. The fit of the light curves (1.5--2.5mmag rms), and of the period analysis, allowed a revision of the orbital and physical parameters, revealing for WASP-39b a period ($4.0552947 \pm 9.65 \times 10^{-7}$ days) which is $3.084 \pm 0.774$ seconds larger than previously reported. Moreover, we find for WASP-43b a planet/star radius ($0.1738 \pm 0.0033$) which is $0.01637 \pm 0.00371$ larger in the i filter with respect to previous works, and that should be confirmed with additional observations. Finally, we confirm no evidence of constant period variations in WASP-43b., Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, accepted in PASP, scheduled for the February 1, 2015 issue

We have obtained CCD photometry and medium-resolution spectroscopy of a number of $\delta$ Scuti and $\gamma$ Doradus stars in the Kepler field-of-view as part of the ground-based observational efforts to support the \textit{Kepler} space mission. In this work we present the preliminary results of these observations., Comment: To be published in conference proceedings of IAU Symposium 301: Precision Asteroseismology, August 2013, Wroclaw, Poland

A search for new pulsating stars in the Coma Berenices open cluster was carried out. As a result of this search the cluster member Melotte 111 AV 1224 presented clear indications of photometric variability. In order to determine its physical parameters Str\"omgren standard indices and low-resolution spectra were acquired. In this work we present the preliminary results of these observations., Comment: To be published in conference proceedings of IAU Symposium 301: Precision Asteroseismology, held in Wroclaw, Poland, August 2013

The preliminary results of an analysis of the KIC 5390438 and KIC 5701829 light curves are presented. The variations of these stars were detected by Baran et al. (2011a) in a search for pulsating M dwarfs in the Kepler public database. The objects have been observed by the Kepler spacecraft during the Q2 and Q3 runs in a short-candence mode (integration time of $\sim$ 1 min). A Fourier analysis of the time series data has been performed by using the PERIOD04 package. The resulting power spectrum of each star shows a clear excess of power in the frequency range 100 and 350 $\mu$Hz with a sequence of spaced peaks typical of solar-like oscillations. A rough estimation of the large and small separations has been obtained. Spectroscopic observations secured at the Observatorio Astronomico Nacional in San Pedro M\'artir allowed us to derive a spectral classification K2III and K0III for KIC 5390438 and KIC 5701829, respectively. Thus, KIC 5390438 and KIC 5701829 have been identified as solar-like oscillating red giant stars., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, contributed talk at the conference "New Quests in Stellar Astrophysics III. A Panchromatic View of Solar like Stars, with and without planets", Puerto Vallarta-Mexico, March 12-16, 2012. ASP Conf. Proc., eds. M. Chavez, E. Bertone, O. Vega and Victor de la Luz, in press

The study of open clusters and their short period variable stars is fundamental in stellar evolution. Because the cluster members are formed in almost the same physical conditions, they share similar stellar properties such age and chemical composition. The assumption of common age, metallicity and distance impose strong constraints when modeling an ensemble of short period pulsators belonging to open clusters (e.g. Fox Machado et al., 2006). Very recently, Luo et al. (2009) carried out a search for variable stars in the direction of NGC 6811 with CCD photometry in B and V bands. They detected a total of sixteen variable stars. Among these variables, twelve were catalogued as $\delta$ {\it Scuti} stars, while no variability type was assigned to the remaining stars. In this paper we present $uvby\beta$ photoelectric photometry for the variable stars in the direction of NGC 6811., Comment: To be published in Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings series (ASSP), in the proceedings of "20th Stellar Pulsation Conference Series: Impact of new instrumentation & new insights in stellar pulsations", 5-9 September 2011, Granada, Spain

The preliminary results of a multisite photometric campaign on the Pleiades Delta Scuti variable V650 Tauri are reported. The star was observed photometrically for 14 days during 2008 November from three observatories distributed in Longitude around the Earth. As a result of the preliminary analysis we have detected in V650 Tauri at least nine oscillation frequencies above a 99% confidence level., Comment: 2 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, to appear in proceedings of the XIII Latin American Regional IAU Meeting, Morelia-Michoacan, Mexico, 2010, RevMexAA(SC)

The star BL Camelopardalis (GD 428, GSC 04067-00471, V=12.92, B=13.1), is a SX Phoenicis pulsating variable showing a high amplitude variability (300-350 mmag), with a very clear period of 56.3 min, that has being recently studied by Fauvaud et al. (2010). They show that the observed variability is due to a clear and single pulsation, as expected for these type of pulsators. It was discovered as a variable star on 1976 by Berg and Duthie (1977)., Comment: 1 page, 1 figure, to appear in proceedings of XIII Latin American Regional IAU Meeting, Morelia-Michoacan, Mexico 2010, RevMexAA(SC)

We present results on the second-faintest pulsating subdwarf B (sdB) star known, RAT J0455+1305, derived from photometric data obtained in 2009. It shows both short and long periods oscillations, theoretically assigned as pressure and gravity modes. We identify six short-period frequencies (with one being a combination) and six long-period frequencies. This star is the fourth hybrid sdB star discovered so far which makes it of special interest as each type of mode probes a different part of the star. This star is similar to the sdB hybrid pulsator Balloon 090100001 in that it exhibits short-period mode groupings, which can be used to identify pulsation parameters and constrain theoretical models., Comment: published in MNRAS

The discovery of non-radial pulsations (NRP) in the Be/X binaries of the Magellanic Clouds (MC, eg. Fabrycky 2005, Coe et al. 2005, Schmidtke & Cowley 2005) provided a new approach to understand these complex systems, and, at the same time, favoured the synergy between two different fields: stellar pulsations and X-ray binaries. This breakthrough was possible thanks to the MACHO and OGLE surveys. However, in our Galaxy, only two Be/X have been reported to show NRP: GROJ2058+42 (Kiziloglu et al. 2007) and LSI+61 235 (Sarty et al. 2009). Our objective is to study the short-term variability of Galactic Be/X binaries, compare them to the Be/X of the MC and to the isolated Galactic Be observed with CoRoT and Kepler. We present preliminary results of two Be/X stars, namely 4U0115+63 and SAXJ2103.5+4545 showing multiperiodicity and periodicity respectively, most probably produced by non-radial pulsations., Comment: 2 pages, 2 figures, IAUS 272 "Active OB stars: structure, evolution, mass loss and critical limits" conference, Paris, July 2010, submitted

Preliminary results on the discovery and follow-up observations of a new $\delta$ Scuti pulsator in the Cygnus field are presented. The variability of the star HD 207331 was detected while testing a Str\"omgren spectrophotometer attached to the H.L. Johnson 1.5-m telescope at the San Pedro M\'artir observatory, M\'exico. CCD photometric data acquired soon after confirmed its variability. A few hours of $uvby$ differential photoelectric photometry during three nights revealed at least two beating periods. A two-site observational campaign carried out during one week in 2009 confirms the multi-periodic nature of this new $\delta$ Scuti pulsator., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, 4 tables, Astronomische Nachrichten, Proceedings of the HELAS IV Conference: Seismological Challenges for Stellar Structure, held in Lanzarote, Spain, February 2010, Astronomische Nachrichten, 331, No.9-10 (2010)/P37

Short-period high-amplitude pulsating stars of Population I ($\delta$ Sct stars) and II (SX Phe variables) exist in the lower part of the classical (Cepheid) instability strip. Most of them have very simple pulsational behaviours, only one or two radial modes being excited. Nevertheless, BL Cam is a unique object among them, being an extreme metal-deficient field high-amplitude SX Phe variable with a large number of frequencies. Based on a frequency analysis, a pulsational interpretation was previously given. aims heading (mandatory) We attempt to interpret the long-term behaviour of the residuals that were not taken into account in the previous Observed-Calculated (O-C) short-term analyses. methods heading (mandatory) An investigation of the O-C times has been carried out, using a data set based on the previous published times of light maxima, largely enriched by those obtained during an intensive multisite photometric campaign of BL Cam lasting several months. results heading (mandatory) In addition to a positive (161 $\pm$ 3) x 10$^{-9}$ yr$^{-1}$ secular relative increase in the main pulsation period of BL Cam, we detected in the O-C data short- (144.2 d) and long-term ($\sim$ 3400 d) variations, both incompatible with a scenario of stellar evolution. conclusions heading (mandatory) Interpreted as a light travel-time effect, the short-term O-C variation is indicative of a massive stellar component (0.46 to 1 M$_{\sun}$) with a short period orbit (144.2 d), within a distance of 0.7 AU from the primary. More observations are needed to confirm the long-term O-C variations: if they were also to be caused by a light travel-time effect, they could be interpreted in terms of a third component, in this case probably a brown dwarf star ($\geq$ 0.03 \ M$_{\sun}$), orbiting in $\sim$ 3400 d at a distance of 4.5 AU from the primary., Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in A&A

RAT0455+1305 was discovered during the Rapid Temporal Survey which aims in finding any variability on timescales of a few minutes to several hours. The star was found to be another sdBV star with one high amplitude mode and relatively long period. These features along with estimation of T_eff and log g makes this star very similar to Balloon 090100001. Encouraged by prominent results obtained for the latter star we have decided to perform white light photometry on RAT0455+1305. In 2009 we used the 1.5m telescope located in San Pedro Martir Observatory in Mexico. Fourier analysis confirmed the dominant mode found in the discovery data, uncovered another peak close to the dominant one, and three peaks in the low frequency region. This shows that RAT0455+1305 is another hybrid sdBV star pulsating in both p- and g-modes., Comment: Proceedings of The Fourth Meeting on Hot Subdwarf Stars and Related Objects held in China, 20-24 July 2009. Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Science

Photometric $(ubvy-\beta$) and spectroscopic observations of the $\delta$ Scuti variables \astrobj{7 Aql} and \astrobj{8 Aql} are described. The Str\"omgren standard indices and physical parameters of both stars are derived. Spectral types of F0V and F2III have been assigned to \astrobj{7 Aql} and \astrobj{8 Aql} respectively considering the results from both spectroscopy and photometry. Differential $uvby$ light curves were also analyzed. A attempt of multicolour mode identification is carried out., Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables, accepted for publication in New Astronomy